TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Shawnee County authorities say a 21-year-old man has been charged with killing a 5-year-old girl in a drive-by shooting.
Jessie Deshawn Hughes, of Topeka, was charged Thursday with one count of felony first-degree murder in the 2015 shooting death of 5-year-old Lily Coats-Nichols. He was also charged with criminal discharge of a firearm at an occupied vehicle.
Hughes is being held in the Shawnee County jail in lieu of a $1 million bond.
The girl died in July 2015. Police said she was riding in a car when someone drove by and fired shots at the vehicle. Lily was hit in the head.
Two adults — including Lily’s mother — also were traveling in the targeted vehicle.
WASHINGTON, DC – U.S. Sen. Pat Roberts (R-Kan.) and U.S. Rep. Lynn Jenkins (R-Kan.) today applauded House and Senate Leadership’s decision to set the ceremony to award former Kansas U.S. Senator Robert J. Dole with the Congressional Gold Medal on January 17, 2018, at 3:00 p.m. ET in the Rotunda of the United States Capitol.
Roberts and Jenkins introduced the original legislation in the Senate and the House to honor Dole with this award. After securing the cosponsorship of nearly all members of both chambers, it was signed into law on September 15.
“I am so proud we can finally honor Senator Dole with this much-deserved award,” said Sen. Roberts. “The Congressional Gold Medal is one of our nation’s highest honors, and the overwhelming support this bill received shows how just how much Bob deserves this award. He is a true American hero who has dedicated his life to serving our nation and great state of Kansas. I thank Rep. Jenkins for her leadership in the House, and I look forward to honoring my good friend, mentor, and brother Senator Bob Dole this January.”
“It has been a privilege to work with Sen. Roberts on legislation to honor my close friend and mentor, Sen. Bob Dole,” said Rep. Jenkins. “From my days as a kid wearing a sandwich board in support of his campaigns for the Senate, to the counsel he provided throughout my time in public service, Bob Dole has meant a lot to me and to all Kansans who know him. Throughout Senator Dole’s life, he has consistently exemplified humility, hard work, and leadership, and I could not be more proud to recognize him for this service.”
The Congressional Gold Medal is in “recognition for his service to the nation as a soldier, legislator and statesman.” It is the highest expression of national appreciation for distinguished achievements and contributions. It is the most distinguished honor and the highest civilian honor given by the Congress.
The full text of the legislation can he found here.
The ceremony will be live-streamed at speaker.gov/live. For more on the history of the Congressional Gold Medal, view this video from the Speaker’s office.
NESS COUNTY – Following an investigation into official misconduct, the Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) arrested Ness County Sheriff Bryan Whipple on Thursday morning.
According to a media release, the KBI initiated an investigation into allegations against the Sheriff at the request of the Ness County Attorney.
Whipple, 47, of Ness City, was arrested for perjury, making false information, criminal distribution of firearms to a felon, and official misconduct. The alleged crimes are suspected to have occurred over the past four years.
Whipple made his first court appearance in Rush County District Court shortly after his arrest. Ness County Attorney Kevin Salzman is expected to prosecute the case.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — A woman says her ex-boyfriend was attempting to kill her when he shot at her from a slain Kansas woman’s car and then killed himself when the plot failed.
The Kansas City Star reports that Bryanna Spencer says Kareem McCoy-Lee used the car of 18-year-old Mikayla Norris on Tuesday to chase her as she was driving to a job interview in Liberty, Missouri. Spencer escaped with the help of a worker who happened to be nearby and said Wednesday that she felt burdened by the knowledge that McCoy-Lee’s plot against her claimed Norris’ life.
Mikayala Norris-photo courtesy Overland Park PD
Police say McCoy-Lee’s body was found later Tuesday in Liberty, while Norris’ body was found in Kansas City, Missouri. The Overland Park, Kansas, woman was last seen alive Sunday leaving her job at a barbecue restaurant.
SEDGWICK COUNTY —Law enforcement authorities are investigating a burglary and asking for assistance to locate a suspect.
Just before 2a.m. Thursday police officers on patrol observed two stolen vehicles in the Ramada 5800 West Kellogg in Wichita, according to officer Charley Davidson.
HD Automotive on West Douglas in Wichita had reported the vehicles stolen early Tuesday morning. One of the vehicles, a black Kia pulled out of the parking lot and refused to stop. Police chased the vehicle and officers used a tire deflation device.
The vehicle struck a curb at second and West Street, according to Davidson. Police arrested the 19-year-old driver for alleged felon in possession of a firearm, felony traffic charges, possession of stolen property and burglary.
Police also located numerous Christmas presents inside the vehicle, according to Davidson. Officers were currently working a burglary case involving stolen gifts at a residence in the 1800 Block of West Diane.
LAWRENCE, Kan. (AP) — The University of Kansas plans to rename its football stadium to honor a major donor.
The Kansas Board of Regents Wednesday approved the university’s request to rename Memorial Stadium to the David Booth Kansas Memorial Stadium.
Booth gave $50 million to the university’s athletic department in September. He has given several other financial gifts to the university, including $4.3 million to buy and donate James Naismith’s original rules of basketball.
Kansas chancellor Douglas Girod told The Topeka Capital-Journal that many details still have to be completed, including what the signs will look like and where they will be placed.
Girod also said he wants to erect a monument or signs to re-emphasize that the stadium is memorial to university students who fought and died in World War I.
RILEY COUNTY — Law enforcement authorities are investigating an alleged attempted murder and have a suspect in custody.
Just after 7 a.m. on Thursday, police filed a report for attempted murder in the 2nd degree, aggravated endangering a child and criminal use of weapons in the 1900 block of Lincoln Dr. in Manhattan, according to the RCPD activity report.
A 27-year-old Manhattan man is listed as the victim, according to police.
Police arrested Curtis Norman, 57, of Manhattan on charges of attempted murder in the 2nd degree and criminal use of weapons.
Norman remains jailed on a bond of $100,000.00. He has a previous aggravated battery conviction in 2001, according to the Kansas Department of Corrections.
DETROIT (AP) — Ford and Mazda are recalling more than 380,000 older small pickup trucks for a second time to replace Takata air bag inflators that can explode and hurl shrapnel.
The recalls cover driver and passenger inflators in certain 2004 to 2006 Ford Ranger and Mazda B-Series trucks made by Ford.
Takata uses ammonium nitrate to create a small explosion that inflates air bags. But the chemical can deteriorate over time and burn too fast, blowing apart a metal canister. At least 20 people have been killed worldwide.
The trucks were recalled in 2015 and 2016 to replace inflators with newer ones as a temporary fix. Under the latest recalls, inflators will be swapped for ones that don’t use ammonium nitrate.
Owners will be notified starting later this month.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Authorities have identified a woman’s body found in Kansas City, Missouri, as that of missing 18-year-old and say a person of interest in her disappearance killed himself.
Police said Wednesday that the body of Mikayla Norris, of suburban Overland Park, Kansas, was discovered Tuesday in a wooded area. Kareem McCoy-Lee’s body was found behind a sporting goods store in suburban Liberty, Missouri. Police are investigating the deaths as a possible murder suicide.
Police in Liberty say McCoy-Lee also fired shots earlier Tuesday at another woman while she was driving. She wasn’t struck but hit a tree.
Norris was last seen Sunday leaving a barbecue restaurant where she worked.
KSHB-TV reports that McCoy-Lee had been charged with assault while living in Kansas City and with domestic violence while living in Florida.
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KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — Authorities have found a woman’s body in Kansas City, Missouri, while searching for a missing 18-year-old and say a person of interest in her disappearance has killed himself.
Kansas City police say a tip Tuesday night led officers to a wooded area where the woman’s body was found. Police are trying to determine if the body is that of Mikayala Norris, of suburban Overland Park, Kansas. She was last seen Sunday leaving a barbecue restaurant where she worked. A missing person flyer said she was headed to a party. She didn’t show up for work Monday.
Police say the person of interest in the case was found dead Tuesday night behind a sporting goods store in suburban Liberty, Missouri, and that the case is being investigated as a possible murder-suicide.
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Person of interest in connection with the search for Norris-photo Overland Park PD
KANSAS CITY (AP) – Authorities have found a woman’s body in Kansas City, Missouri, while searching for a missing 18-year-old and say a person of interest in her disappearance has killed himself.
KMBC-TV reports that a tip led police to a wooded area where the woman’s body was found Tuesday night. Police are trying to determine if the body is that of Mikayala Norris, of suburban Overland Park, Kansas. She was last seen Sunday leaving a barbecue restaurant where she worked as a hostess. A missing person flyer said she was headed to a party. She didn’t show up for work Monday.
The person of interest in the case was found dead in suburban Liberty, Missouri. Police had asked for help earlier Tuesday finding a man seen in nearby Gladstone, Missouri, driving Norris’ car.
FORD COUNTY — A man who served as a firefighter in southwest Kansas died in an accident just after 7:30a.m. Wednesday in Ford County.
The Kansas Highway Patrol reported 2016 Ford Explorer driven by Caleb Matthew Douglas, 28, Minneola, was northbound on U.S. 283 three miles north of Minneola.
Douglas attempted to overtake and pass a northbound 2008 Dodge Ram driven by James Morley Young, 20, Minneola. The Ford struck a southbound Freightliner semi driven by Sofia Esther Ponce, 57, El Paso, Texas, head-on. Debris from the collision then struck the Dodge.
Douglas was pronounced dead at the scene and transported to Zeigler Funeral Chapel. He had served with the Minneola Fire Department in Clark County for almost three years.
Ponce was transported to the hospital in Dodge City. Young was not injured. All three were properly restrained at the time of the accident, according to the KHP.
